WFO SHV - Heat Stress Safety

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Are You Ready
For Summer?

Although rarely recognized, heat is by far the number one killer of all weather events. Over the last ten years, heat has averaged nearly 200 fatalities a year, with flash flooding being second to heat with 90 fatalities a year. In 1995 alone, there were over 1021 heat related fatalities. Extreme heat affects all who live in the Ark-La-Tex, but the elderly, poor, infants and those who work outside during the summer are the most likely to succumb to the heat.

Click here for some Shreveport Summer Climatology

A pie chart displaying the national average weather fatalities.
This does not include the loss of life due to hurricane Katrina.

Click on the following links for informational statements about heat.

Heat Index in Fahrenheit using Relative Humidity Enter in the air temperature ( T_air ) in degrees Fahrenheit and relative humidity ( RH ) in percent (without the % sign ), then click on the Calculate HI to compute the heat index ( HI ).
T_air in °F		RH				T_dp =

Heat Index in Fahrenheit using Dew Point Enter in the air temperature ( T_air ) the dew point temperature ( T_dp ) in degrees Fahrenheit, then click on the Calculate HI to compute the heat index ( HI).
T_air in °F		T_dp in °F				RH =

Heat Index Chart
Temperature vs. Relative Humidity

How to read the chart: find the temperature on the left hand side, then move to the right until you find the column for the approximate relative humidity. That number will be the temperature that it will "feel" like. Example: A temperature of 95 and relative humidity of 50% will "feel" like 107 degrees. Add up to 15 degrees if in the direct sun.

10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50% 55% 60% 65% 70% 75% 80%

115 111 115 120 127 135 143 151

110 105 108 112 117 123 130 137 143 151

105 100 102 105 109 113 118 123 129 135 142 149

100 95 97 99 101 104 107 110 115 120 126 132 136 144

95 90 91 93 94 96 98 101 104 107 110 114 119 124 130 136

90 85 86 87 88 90 91 93 95 96 98 100 102 106 109 113

85 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 93 95 97

80 75 76 77 77 78 79 79 80 81 81 82 83 85 86 86

75 70 71 72 72 73 73 74 74 75 75 76 76 77 77 78

Heat Index/Heat Disorders

Heat Index	Possible heat disorders for people in higher risk groups
130 or higher	Heatstroke/sunstroke highly likely with continued exposure.
105-130	Sunstroke, heat cramps or heat exhaustion likely, and heat stroke possible with prolonged exposure and/or physical activity.
90-105	Sunstroke, heat cramps and heat exhaustion possible with prolonged exposure and/or physical activity.
80-90	Fatigue possible with prolonged exposure and/or physical activity.